Curandera: from the word "curar,"
to heal; Curandera (o), healer; Cura, priest; Cura, in slang usage refers to something funny or witty, as in "que cura!" Curanderas
use prayer, ritual, humor, and the sacred in healing.
Curanderismo
stems from the Spanish word curar, which means to heal. It is practiced in Mexico, Latin America, and the southwestern
United States. The curandera(o)
(female/male healer) is viewed as the community folk doctor, psychotherapist, minister and spiritual advisor all
rolled into one.
In curanderismo, it is believed that disease is caused by social, psychological,
physical, and spiritual factors. A mix of healing traditions, curanderismo as Grace practices it, is based in ancient
Aztec and Mayan medicine. Today it is used by people from all walks of life to supplement conventional medicine.
Unofficial curanderas are often found in Mexican American neighborhoods of the United States -- usually
an older woman who some knowledge of herbs and folk remedies, and who may also have other gifts and abilities such as
clairvoyance which they use as part of their practice. Often they are also asked to conduct special ceremonies to
purify, bless, consecrate and harmonize a client's living and working environment. Curanderas/os never impose their will on another. Their goal is to heal, harmonize and protect
those who seek their help.
A curandera(o) may be either born into a family with a tradition of curanderismo, receive the gift of healing later
in life, and/or participate in a long-term apprenticeship with an experienced curandero/a. Many curanderas also have gift of seeing
disease in the body and the ability to change the body's energy system which is similar to "laying on of hands. Recently a
new term has emerged in the U.S. for this gift: medical intuitive.
There are various specialities within the curanderismo system of healing:
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Yerberas: specialists of herbal remedies who use herbs, roots, and teas brewed from plant leaves to
treat disorders such as diabetes, heart problems, and ulcers. They may also use herbs for purification bathing ceremonies.
(Herbs may be used by other types of curanderas as well).
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Sobadoras: massage therapists who use massage and acupressure techniques to treat blockages in the
stomach or digestive tract, constipation, and indigestion. Massage is also used to relax the body and the muscles, and to
soothe patients who are frightened or in pain.
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Parteras: midwives who attend births and provide prenatal, postpartum, and well-woman care.
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Consejeras: provide counseling for problems ranging from grief to shyness to bereavement, and utilize
platicas (heart-to-heart talks) to relieve sadness, anxiety, and emotional pain.
-
Curandera total: considered the most well-rounded, and in some cases, the most “shamanic”
of healers, they are gifted in utilizing herbs, midwifery, massage, and spiritual techniques
To relieve the physical and spiritual manifestations of illness, curanderas use a number of special tools and
treatments:
Limpias. Spiritual
cleansings, done by "sweeping" the body with a bundle of herbs and aromatic waters, or a sacred feather to remove negative
energies. At times a fresh raw egg may also be used and is rubbed over the body, broken, and placed in a glass
of water, allowing the practitioner to "read" the person's energy so the treatment can be individualized.
Soul retrievals.
Ritual ceremonies done for clients who are suffering from soul loss, which can be caused by early abandonment, traumas
such as rape, or unresolved grief for loved ones lost by death or divorce. Soul retrievals allow persons to reclaim lost parts
of themselves so they can be fully integrated and whole.
Healing ceremonies.
These ceremonies may include holding or burying symbolic articles, fasting, prayer, religious objects, chanting,
drumming, or drinking specially prepared infusions. This may include participation in a temazcal (sweatlodge) prior
to the ceremony.
